Vitaly Petrov in the Renault R30

Active years: 1977-1985; 2002-present

History

Renault first entered Formula 1 in 1977, bringing with it the radical innovation of turbo power. Despite being the first team to win a race with a turbo engine, it failed to deliver a championship and economic pressures forced the dissolution of the team in 1985.

It remained as an engine supplier and won a string of championships in the 1990s before returning as a constructor by taking over Benetton. Led by Flavio Briatore the team won both titles in 2005 and 2006 before drivers’ champion Fernando Alonso departed the team.

Alonso returned in 2008 but the revelation that he won that year’s Singapore Grand Prix thanks to his team mate deliberately crashing rocked the team and led to the departure of Briatore along with Pat Symonds. In the winter of 2009 Renault sold a large stake to Genii Capital, which now runs the team.

Headquarters

View Larger Map

Renault’s F1 team is based at Enstone in Oxfordshire, in the United Kingdom (above).

Major team personnel

Team principal: Eric Boullier
Managing director: Bob Bell
Technical director: James Allison
Deputy technical director: Naoki Tokunaga
Chief designer: Tim Densham
Deputy managing director, engine: Rob White
Operations director: John Mardle
Head of aerodynamics: Dirk De Beer
Sporting director: Steve Nielsen
Chief race engineer: Alan Permane

Previous identities: Toleman, Benetton

More articles about Renault